2001-10-10 04:00:00 PDT Washington -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein proposed yesterday that the National Guard be transformed into "a kind of homeland defense force" that would protect everything from airports to aqueducts.

The California Democrat also said she wanted an increased role for the Coast Guard, which is charged with defense of the nation's ports and waterways.

A number of National Guard and reserve units have been called up already for airport security. But Feinstein envisions a much larger role for the Guard,

which has traditionally been a part-time force that drills on weekends.

Feinstein said the Guard should protect aqueducts and highways, among other things. Her proposal envisions a full-time call-up of Guard personnel.

So far, President Bush has asked the National Guard to help provide security at 422 airports. About 5,000 Guard personnel have been called up.

The president has the authority to order the Guard's role increased. No congressional legislation is needed.

Feinstein's proposal, if put into effect, would result in the largest call- up of the National Guard in more than 50 years. The last time units were used in such numbers was during the Korean War, when the 40th Division of the California National Guard was sent into combat.

At least two National Guard units -- the California Guard, which is the largest in the United States, and the Alaska National Guard, the smallest -- endorsed Feinstein's idea.

Maj. Gen. Paul Monroe Jr., commanding officer of the California Guard, said that he was generally in favor of the proposal but that it "raises certain concerns. My biggest concern is if homeland security becomes our only mission, we might lose our capacity to be first responders to the regular Army and Air Force."

The California Guard has about 21,000 members: 16,000 in the Army National Guard and 5,000 in the Air National Guard.

So far 3,000 of its members have been called up to active duty. Some are on patrol at airports, while others, including two battalions of infantry, have been called for duty overseas.

The Alaska National Guard, with 4,000 members equally divided between Army and air units, is ready to go. Homeland defense, said Maj. Mike Haller, "is not a foreign mission to us at all."

"We trace our roots to World War II when we had a homeland defense mission, " Haller said. During the Cold War, he said, Alaska was "a forward area."

Feinstein also called for a bigger role for the Coast Guard, which has been inspecting cargo and cruise ships. Feinstein said most cargo enters the country uninspected.

"Five million cargo containers entered the United States last year," she said, "and only 2 percent were inspected. We have always put trade ahead of the security of our nation."